The chairs of the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees have re-introduced legislation calling for advanced appropriations for military veterans’ health care administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 was put forward by Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, and Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., and is similar to one introduced in the previous Congress that had then-Sen. Obama as a co-sponsor.
It would allow Congress to vote on funding levels a year in advance of the current budget cycle.
"Knowing what money will be coming to them well ahead of time will facilitate the VA’s acquisition of the personnel, equipment and facilities needed to provide the best care possible,” said David K. Rehbein, national commander of The American Legion.
The bill stops short of calling for automatic funding like that for Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare.
Along with several Democrats backing the measure, are Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, Lisa Murkowski, R-Ark., and David Vitter, R-La., and Rep. Walter Jones, R-NC.
